Stenciling apparatus



H. R.' scHu-rz 2,14,321

STENCILING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E Eli. l 5 v 24 f5 ,f6 M 15 v zz BYVz

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April 19, 1938. H. R. SCHUTZ 2,114,321

sTENc1L. ING APPARATUS Filed All@ 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENToR. Y Hal-'nld E. 5 chufrz.

.BY e e l ATToRNE Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Glass Company, a

corporation of Ohio Application August 20, 1936, Serial No. 96,993

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to stenciling apparatus designed for use in applying a vitreous enamel composition or paint to articles of glassware such as tumblers, jars, bottles and the like, 5 and to other articles of a vitreous or ceramic nature in the lettering or decorating thereof by a stenciling process.Y

While the invention may well be employed where either the screen or squeegee is moved positivelyit relates to stenciling apparatus of the type employing a reciprocable stencil screen capable of movement relative to the article undergoing decoration and having permeable portions through which the decorating material is transferred to the article by the spreading action of a squeegee which is maintained in contact with the screen along the line of contact between the screen and surface of the article undergoing decoration.

In apparatus of this type, it is necessary that, upon completion of each stenciling operation and prior to movement of the screen to either of its extreme positions, the squeegee be elevated momentarily from the screen to clear the enamel composition thereon in order that a quantity thereof may be passed under the squeegee and occupy a position on the screen in advance of the squeegee immediately prior to return movement of the screen in the performance of the next succeeding decorating operation.

Heretofore in apparatus of this type, this clearing operation has been dependent upon the skill and judgment of the operator who has been obliged to approximatel the proper moment in each stroke of the reciprocable stencil screen for elevating the squeegee to clear the enamel composition on the screen. When this relatively important clearing operation is left entirely to the skill of the operator, neither uniformity of design nor maximum output can be attained. Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic means for momentarily elevating the squeegee from the stencil screen at the completion of each individual deco- (Cl. .10b-124) of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and showing an automatic trip mechanism employed for elevating the squeegee;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the fragmentary showing made in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 4 showing the various parts thereof in another position;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, diagrammatic in its representation, taken transversely through the article undergoing decoration, the stencil screen, and a portion of the squeegee, showing the manner in which the elevated squeegee clears the enamel composition on the stencil screen.

The apparatus involves in its general organization a base I0 in the form of an elongated, substantially rectangular casting provided with a recess II in the forward side thereof medially of d its'ends. Bolted or otherwise secured to the base Il) on opposite sides of the recess II, and extending vertically upward therefrom, are a pair of standards or supports I2A (Fig. 2) having integrally formed aligned bearings I3 medially of their ends which serve to support therebetween a horizontal rock-shaft I4 (Fig. 6).

An article supporting assembly I5 (Figs. 2 and 6) is pivotally mounted on the rock-shaft Hand 'is designed to rotatably support thereon a tumbler T or like article to be decorated. The lower portion ofthe article supporting assembly I5 extends into the recess Hand the entire assembly is adapted by an automatic mechanism, not shown, and which forms no part of the present invention, to be swung about the axis of the rockshaft I4 to a lowered position to facilitate insertion of an undecorated article in the apparatus or the removal of a decorated article therefrom.

A pair of supporting members I6 (Figs. 1 and 2) each having a forwardly and upwardly extend- `ing supporting `arm I1, and a vertically extending supporting arm I8, are bolted or otherwise secured to the base IB at opposite ends thereof. A pair of front and rear, transversely extending, horizontal tracks I9 and 20 respectively, are carried by the Supporting arms I'I and I8 and are substantially coextensive with the base I0.

Supported tractionally upon the tracks I9 and 20 and movable therealong in either direction transversely of the apparatus, is a stencil screen carriage 2l having associated therewith a stencil screen S adapted to occupy a, position in the apparatus in tangential rolling line contact with the article T supported in the assembly I5 therebeneath. The stencil screen carriage includes supporting wheels 22 which ride'upon the tracks |9 and 20 and which are mounted on the parallel side bars 23 of the carriage 2 I.

The upper ends of the standards I2 are provided with integral guides 24 (Fig. 1) having axially aligned bores 25 which serve to support therebetween a horizontal rock-shaft 26. A squeegee arm 21 is rockably mounted on the rockshaft 2B by means of an integral sleeve 28 formed on the rear end of the arm 21 and through which the shaft 26 extends. The squeegee arm 21 extends over the tracks I9 and 20 and the forward end thereof is supported on the front track I9 by means of an adjusting screw 29 which bears on the track I9 and by means of which a squeegee S' carried by the arm 21 may be adjusted to the screen S. The extreme forward end of the arm 21 is turned downwardly as at 21 in close proximity to the track I9.

Upon movement of the carriage 2| from the extreme position shown in Fig. 1 to a corresponding position on the opposite side of the appara-- tus, or vice versa, the squeegee S' which bears lightly against the screen S along the line of contact between the tumbler T and the screen S, forces coloring material, which is placed on the screen S, through the screen and onto the tumbler T with which it makes tangential rolling line contact.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, an automatic trip mechanism for momentarily elevating the squeegee arm 21 and squeegee S carried thereby, from the stencil screen S is shown. The trip mechanism is adapted to function after the complete design has been applied'to the tumbler T but prior to movement of the carriage 2| to either of its extreme positions. Such momentary ,elevation of thesqueegee S' permits the enamel composition on the screen to pass under the squeegee and occupy a position ahead of the squeegee during the return stroke of the carriage in order that proper application of the design may be made to the next succeeding tumbler undergoing decoration.

Pivoted to the stationary front track I9 in the vicinity of the squeegee arm 21 and on opposite sides thereof, are a pair of ngers 3|l which normally extend upwardly into the path of the carriage 2| and which are adapted to be engaged by the extreme ends of the respective side bars 23 upon approach of the carriage 2| to one or the other of its extreme positions. Each of the ngers 30 is connected through links 3| to one arm of a bell crank lever 32. The other arm of the bell crank lever 32 is conveniently curved for engagement with the Vunderneath side of the downwardly turned end 21' of the squeegeearm 21.

It will be seen that inward swinging movement of either of the fingers 30 toward the squeegee Varm 21 will transmit motion through the respecis insuillcient to raise the squeegee arm 21 from its supported position on the front track I9.

Upon completion of the decorating operation,

i. e., after the completed design has been applied to the tumbler T, as the carriage approaches the end of its stroke at either end of the track I9. the forward end of one or the other of the shafts 23, as the case may be, passes completely over its respective finger 30 and in so doing, tilts thev finger inwardly as shown in Fig. 5 toward the arm 21 to momentarily raise the arm in the manner justl described.

Upon passing beyond the radial limits of the finger 30, the end ofthe shaft 23 releases the finger 30 which is immediately returned to its upright position as shown in Fig. 4, thus permitting the squeegee S to return by gravity to screen .engaging position. Upon commencement of the next succeeding decorating operation, as the carriage 2| is moved in the reverse direction, the end of the shaft 23 trips lightly over the finger 30 with no signiiicant effect other than to permit the carriage to continue its unobstructed movement on the tracks I9 and 2|).

In Fig. 7, the squeegee S is shown in the elevated position which it momentarily assumes upon tripping of the mechanism liust described. A portion of the enamel composition on the screen S has passed with the screen underneath the squeegee and, upon lowering of the squeegee into contact with the screen, this enamel composition will occupy a position ahead of the squeegee for proper application to the tumbler T during the next operative decorating movement of the screen carriage 2|.

Modicatons and variations may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a stenciling apparatus including a horizontally disposed track,a stencil screen carriage mounted on said track for vreciprocation from one end thereof to the other, a stencil screen on the carriage, means for positioning an article having a curved surface to be decorated in tangential rolling line contact with said screen, and a squeegee normally in contact with said screen for forcing decorating material through the same onto said article, said squeegee being adapted to be lifted out of contact with said screen, of an vautomatic trip mechanism including a nger projecting into the path of movement of said carriage and adapted to be engaged by said carriage as the same approaches the end of its stroke in one direction, a lifting nger for lifting said squeegee, and a link connecting said ngers.

2. The combination with a stenciling apparai tus including a horizontally disposed track, a stencil screen carriage mounted on said track for recipocation from one end thereof to the other, a stencil screenon the carriage, means Afor positioning an article having a curved surface to be decorated in Atangential rolling line contact with said screen, and a squeegee normally in contact with said screen for forcing decorating material through the same onto said article, said squeegee being adapted to be liftedgut of contact with said screenof an automatic trip mechanism including a finger pivoted to said track and projecting into the path of movement of said carriage, a bell crank lever pivoted to said track, one arm of said lever being in the form of a lifting linger adapted to engage said squeegee to lift the same out of contact with said screen, and a link connecting the other arm of said nell crank lever and said first mentioned linger.

3. In a stenciling apparatus, a reciprocable stencil screen movable in its own plane from an `extreme position on one side'of the apparatus to a corresponding extreme position on the other side of the apparatus, means for positioning an article having a curved surface to be decorated in tangential rolling line contact with said screen, a squeegee mounted for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, said squeegee being normally in contact with said screen and being adapted upon reciprocation of the latter to force coloring material through the screen and onto the article undergoing decoration, said squeegee being adapted upon tilting movement thereof to move out of contact with said screen, a nger projecting into the path of movement of said carriage and adapted to be engaged by said carriage as the same approaches the end of its stroke in one direction, a lifting nger adapted to engage the free end of said squeegee to elevate the same and tilt the squeegee about said axis,4 and a. link connecting said fingers.

, 4. In a stenciling apparatus, a horizontally disposed track, a stencil screen carriage mounted on said track for reciprocation from one end thereof to the other, a. stencil screen mounted yon said carriage, means for positioning an article having a curved surface to be decorated in tangential rolling line contact with said screen,a squeegee normally in contact with said screen for forcing decorating material through the same onto said article, said squeegee being adapted to be lifted out of contact with said screen, a squeegee lifting element pivoted to a stationary part of the appatus adjacent said track and adapted to be moved into lifting engagement with said squeegee, and a finger connected to said element and projecting into the path of movement of said carriage.

HAROLD R. SCHUTZ. 

